1. Caitlin De Boer<br />Mr. Earnest Hays<br />CS 102_02<br />21 April 2011<br />Tampa Bay<br />Welcome to the Gulf Coast of Florida, where the beaches are beautiful, the weather is sunny and where the tourists almost always outnumber the residence. As part of the 19th largest metro [Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater Metro] area in the United States with over 2.5 million residents, Tampa Bay is not only one of the most sought out tourist destinations, it is also my lifetime home and future destination (U.S. Census Bureau ).<br />Tampa Bay is most commonly noted for being comprised of beautiful beaches and sunny weather, possessing numerous tourist attractions, national sports league teams, a flourishing nightlife and great dining. However the hidden treasures of Tampa’s historical Ybor city, St. Pete and Clearwater, can be found in their flourishing music venues, richly diversified culture of business and cuisine. Whether your pursuit is businesses, pleasure, residence, opportunities, vacation or just starting over, Tampa’s rich culture and abundant work force, make it the perfect career city starter.<br />Tourists and residents alike all take pleasure in visiting nationally renown attractions such as Busch Gardens, Adventure Island, The Florida Aquarium, Lowery Park Zoo, Pier 60 at Clearwater Beach, the “Sponge Docks” of Tarpon Springs (considered the “Sponge Capital of the World”), historical Ybor city- once the cigar capital of the world, International Plaza and the downtown Tampa’s Channelside Bay Plaza CITATION Tam11 1033 (TampaBayDirectory). <br />Festivities reflecting culture also flourish here, whether annual or seasonal festivals Tampa’s calendar is filled with events like The Outback Bowl, The Gasparilla Parade, Plant City’s Strawberry Festival, Ybor’s Fiesta Day, the Gasparilla Festival of the Arts, the Fourth of July Celebration at Channelside, Ybor’s Annual Tampa Cigar Heritage Festival and the Annual Victorian Christmas Stroll CITATION Win11 1033 (Wingate By Wyndham). With so many wonderful places to visit and festivities to experience, the possibilities of how to spend one’s time- while visiting or residing- here in Tampa are limitless. <br />Nationally recognized sports teams that put Tampa on the map include the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lighting, the MLB’s Tampa Bay Devil Rays, AFL’s Tampa Bay Storm and our professional soccer team, FC Tampa Bay. Tampa is also home to the New York Yankee’s spring training stadium and camps. While our recognized collegiate teams include the UFS Bulls and the UT Spartans. <br />However if it’s real local flavor, flare and zest you seek, head to the locals favorite spots for live music, good food and excellent company. Ybor’s New World Brewery is serving up their music at an indoor/outdoor pub- renown by students and local regulars for their sweet lineup of indie artists, while serving up fantastic pizza and brew to locals and visitors alike. Other local favorite spots include The Crowbar, The Orpheum, The Brass Mug, Globe Coffee Lounge, State Theater, Jannus Landing (aka Jannus Live), and Skipper’s Smokehouse to name a few CITATION Jul09 1033 (Garisto). All are warm and welcoming whether a Tampa regular or a newbie, these venues are all wonderful places to visit on your next trip to Tampa, Florida.<br />Tampa was chosen specifically for the potential of growth in the local music scene. As a musician and entrepreneur, my hope is to get my music career underway and then later return to Tampa to infuse the local talent with venues for musicians to perform in, giving locals and traveling acts opportunities to show the nation and world what Tampa Bay has to offer.<br />Works Cited<br />Garisto, Julie. Tampa Bay's best small-scale live music venues. 2009 January 2009. St. Petersburg Times. March 2011 <http://www.tampabay.com/features/music/article969326.ece>.<br />TampaBayDirectory. Tampa Bay Facts. 4 February 2011. March 2011 <http://www.pinellaslife.com/tampa_bay_facts.htm>.<br />The Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce. Arts and Entertainment. 2011. March 2011 <http://www.tampachamber.com/ti_entertainment.asp>.<br />U.S. Census Bureau . 50 Largest Metropolitan Statistical Areas in 2009--Components of Population Change. 20 January 2011. March 2011 <http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/cats/population.html>.<br />Wingate By Wyndham. Tampa Bay Event Calendar: Annual Events. 2011. <http://www.wingatenewtampa.com/events/>.<br />